Recognition of prior learning in doctoral studies
Table of contents
Instructions for recognition of prior learning in doctoral studies
Recognition of prior learning (sometimes referred to as RPL or AHOT) refers to the process of approving previous studies, internships, work experience or other competences as part of a degree, study entity, or study unit in compulsory or optional studies.
Types of prior learning performance:
- Substitution means substituting a course in the Univeristy of Jyväskylä curricula with prior studies or other experience gained outside the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥. Substitutions are registered course by course and they require correspondence between contents. Studies can be substituted fully or partially.
- Inclusion means including prior studies or other experience gained outside the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ to your degree, without substituting existing content in the curriculum. This can be individual courses or study modules that do not have an equivalence in the curricula of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥. Prior competence is accepted as part of the degree as such. Correspondence between contents is not required, but the studies must meet the level of curriculum and correspond to the expertise required by the degree.
- Custom course credits are attainments completed at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ that do not substitute for any existing courses. The requesting and granting of custom course credits is always agreed upon and instructed case by case.
Can I apply for recognition of prior learning? What type of performance (attainment type) do I choose?
If you have completed doctoral studies elsewhere than at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥, you can apply for recognition of prior learning in the form of substitution or inclusion. This applies to situations where you have completed a course or other study unit and it has been accepted by an educational institution other than the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥, and you have received a certificate or other document for it. The application for recognition of prior learning (substitution or inclusion) is made in the Sisu system. A certificate/document from the completed study course must be attached.
If you have completed something that is not a course but, for example, a conference presentation, a scientific article, teaching or work experience, researcher mobility, etc., as a rule, these are normal completion methods which are usually mentioned and defined in the curriculum of the doctoral programme. In these cases the credits will be recorded for you in accordance with the practices of your own faculty. Please consult your supervisor and/or the faculty's doctoral studies coordinator.
If necessary, the faculty's doctoral studies coordinator will instruct you to apply for custom course credits (studies completed at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ that do not substitute for any existing course).
The possibilities for recognition of prior learning should be discussed when creating the personal study plan. The matter should be discussed with your supervisor(s) and/or the faculty's doctoral studies coordinator well before the start of the studies in question.
You can get more information about the matter from the faculty's doctoral studies coordinator. Please contact the coordinator via HelpJYU (see Services for Doctoral Education below).
